There’s no place like home. Welcome to the Homecoming edition of the Wildcats Newsletter. We had a week full of action as all four tackle teams had Wednesday and Sunday games, with the annual Cheer Powder Puff football game, and two flag games. Here is how it went down…
September 6, 2023
Bears 28 Raiders 21
Head coach Tom Kopin was left with a sour taste in his mouth losing a great defensive battle to past assistant coach Mike Przysucha and the Bears. “Big Red” Robert Horton led the offense on Sunday with another score. Also, Omar Salah followed a wall led by Chris Goss, Zeke Powers, and Matthew Kopin for a long TD run. The Raiders D came up with a huge turnover on downs with great interior push by Duke Malinowski and Rowan “Back Breaker” Baker to get the ball back with under a minute left. AJ Baker “The Touchdown Maker” sprinted with everything he had to be stopped inside the five and left the Raiders just short of a tie in a great battle.
It’s been said among the streets of Frankfort Square that the defensive front of the Bears have been known to give people nightmares. While we can’t confirm that, we can confirm that the front 5 of Sam Holzer, “BIG” Sean Welch, Grayson Hix, Kaayne Przysucha, and Gavin Pratt certainly set the tone for this matchup against a solid Raiders Offense. Defensive Line coach Kevin Welch had his boys motivated and ready to play with his new “ice cream cone-gate” team policy (which has nothing whatsoever to do with bounty-gate)! Also, watch out for up-and-coming LB Luke Koch! This little guy is making it REALLY hard to leave him off the ballot for Defensive rookie of the year, with his stellar flag pulling at the Line Backer position.
Offensively, RB “Sweetness” Holzer was at it again, as he was able to make his way to the end zone on a 40-yard gallop, bringing his 2023 season total to 5 TDs on 7 carries through 3 games. With the Raiders D keeping tabs on Holzer, the “next man up” mentality kicked in for the high-powered Bears offense. Wingback Gavin Pratt and QB1 Jack “Jax” Sultanian managed to punch their 1-way tickets to the end zone in this very entertaining match up.
With the game on the line and the Raiders threatening to score the game tying TD deep in Bears territory, who other than Defensive star Gavin Pratt (fresh off his first “ice cream cone” earlier in the game) to get the game sealing flag pull, and help the Bears lock up the Homecoming win.
Rams 28 Steelers 28
This week's battle between the Greatest Show on Turf and the Steel Curtain did not disappoint.
The Rams started off early on their first drive on fourth down to the end zone with a 35 yard run.
The Steelers returned the favor and that's the way the whole game went with a tie game 28-28.
QB phenom Sully Jensen completed a pass for a touchdown to Jimmy Doté and snuck one in himself on a QB fake.
Defensive coaches Mikaitis and Giordano’s defense once again stepped up on the last drive to solidify a tie behind the awesome flag pulling abilities of Mikey Collins, Mike Mikaitis, Cayden Sherman and Tyson Carter.
The coaching staff of the young Rams team had the boys ready to go on Sunday for Homecoming. A high-powered offense saw both Ben and Luke Kovacevich and CJ and Cayden Mitchell score TDs in this back and forth thriller.
The Steelers stay undefeated at 2-0-1 and face the Raiders in week 4.
September 6, 2023
All four teams were in action on Wednesday night:
SLW vs NL Warriors
Wednesday our teal team had an all-out battle from start to finish with the New Lenox Warriors.
Proving Wildcats don’t quit, Tik Tok sensation Jack “Touchdown” Brown had a pick six with no time on the clock winning the game 6-0.
Offensively we had some big runs by Hunter Street, Willie Stallworth, and Lucian Holder. On defense some Joel Conde and Uncle Niko Genardo made some key tackles. A battle of epic proportions won in the last seconds!!!
LW vs Frankfort Falcons Black
Programming Note: Do not show up late for the Wildcats’ Wednesday game because you will miss a lot. In the continuation of the cross-town rivalry, “EZ-E” Elijah Stephens took a pitch around the right end for a 60-yard TD on the game’s first play. Not to be outdone, Massai Reid took the next play around the left end scoring the second 60-yard TD in as many plays. Justin Dixon added a TD on a QB keeper. London Jones ran in two PATs.
Defensively, the Cats held the Falcons to negative yards of offense. Tommy Pizczor had multiple tackles for loss with two sacks. Ahmed Kishta also recorded a sack. Dixon showed up in the defensive stat sheet with an interception return for his second TD. The Wildcats rolled to a 26-7 victory.
JV vs Frankfort Falcons Black
The JV Wildcats played the Frankfort Falcons Black on a dreary, rain-soaked Wednesday evening. They battled back and forth and after the Falcons took a 7-0 lead, Jameson Hix found Dominick Hillegonds over the middle for an 80-yard TD to tie the game – unfortunately for the Wildcats a flag nullified the longest play of the year. Up front the ground attack was led by Aidan Lorendo, Jaxson Dixon, Blake Roberts, Caleb “Where’s My Equipment” Thomas, Parker Racette, and Jabreel Dajani. They opened holes for Will Holzer, Evan Solava, and Ronnie Houk. The Defense was led by Holzer, Dixon, Lorendo, and Hix. Evan Pearson batted down a couple of passes. Hix and Riccordino recovered fumbles. Falcons 7 – Wildcats 0.
Late results: Wednesday August 30, 2023
Varsity vs TP Bulldogs
“The Librarian” Danny Book led the Wildcats with 2 TD runs and QB Andrew Radziwon scored another on a 2-yard QB Keeper. Hunter Clendenning got the Wildcats into scoring position and had a few nice 10 yard plus runs. The Offensive line looked sharp led by Nolan Ward, Connor Schnolis and Colten Phillips.
Defense was led by Radziwon, Book and Zain Muhsen who held on for an 18-14 Wildcats win.
Wednesday September 6th vs NL Warriors
The Wildcats struggled to get anything going offensively against a tough Warriors team. On Defense, Terry Brown, Liam Egan and Danny Book had outstanding games, but the Warriors were too much to handle and won 25-0.
September 8, 2023
Powder Puff Football
8th Grade 28 – 7th Grade 0
We may need to change the name from “Powder Puff” to “Loud and Tough”. I already knew how athletic our cheer teams were, but I had no idea how tough they were. This game put a new spin on the phrase Cheer Competition. The 8th graders were determined to show their younger counterparts who were the true Homecoming Queens. The 8th graders let it be known who was in charge when Brooklyn Brewer sprinted for a TD on the game’s first play. Julia Scully was a two-way star for Team 8, with a TD run and an interception return for a TD. Emily Bird capped the scoring for Team 8 with a long TD run. Faith Bartee was all over the field on defense. The rest of the 8th graders contributed on offense and defense: Campbell Connelly, Layla Esparza, Ella Hacker, Teagan Jensen, Kylie Kassitas, Kendall Malichinkis, Marilyn Messana, Sarah Needham, Elizabeth Pedersen, Montie Piwowor, Adrina Schultz, Julia Scully, Neve Walsh, Samantha Williams, and Catherine Zugaj. The 7th graders played tough and will look to get their revenge next year.
September 10, 2023
SLW
Wildcats 19 – NL Jr. Knights 0
An amazing day for the Wildcats Super Lightweights on our 2023 homecoming. After two tough weeks the boys came out playing hard after some major adjustments. The offense came out strong and scored quickly when Landon Horton took it to the house on a 60-yard TD run. Defense had a better day, forcing three turnovers. The Cats had two interceptions and a forced fumble that resulted in two touchdowns. Landon Horton showed he is a two-way player picking off a pass and running it back for a pick six. Later on, in the second quarter King Wells majestically nabbed a Knight’s pass and took it to the house for the Cats’ second interception return for a TD. Tyler Huber forced a fumble for the third turnover. Also contributing with tackles on defense were Rylan Ferretti, Nick Mosel, Jack “Crackdown” Brown, and Willie Stallworth. Winning the game, 19-0 will give the Superlights the confidence they need!!
LW
Wildcats 33 - Knights 7
The Knights suffered more than a flesh wound (this Monty Python reference may show my age) in the Lightweight battle as the Wildcats dominated the line of scrimmage. The Wildcats took the opening drive down the field capped by a 30-yard TD run by Mason Shefcik. A second quarter TD pass by the Knights tied the score at 7, but it proved to be their last highlight on the day. The Teal Curtain offensive line (Pecho, Howard, Golick, Wilson, and Palmer) opened huge holes and Kenny Ritter followed Shefcik and Kallen Mikrut’s lead blocks for two long TD runs. Justin Kaminski took and end-around for a 20-yard TD and “E-Z E” Elijah Stephens capped the scoring with a run from 5 yards out. The Cats also showed they could move the ball through the air as QB Ryan Radziwon connected with Jack Foley on long completions.
On the defensive side of the ball, Bryce Westerberg had multiple tackles, a pass defended, and an interception. Additionally, Mikrut recovered an onside kick off the foot of Tommy “The Toe” Mularz. And in case you were wondering what that loud boom was in the 4th quarter, that was Jackson Huber laying out two Knights along the sideline.
In 5th quarter action, we split the field and let the Wildcats’ Teal and White teams compete at the same time. It was chaotic trying to watch two games at once, but the White offense showed it is starting to gel and had some success. Jack Doté got it started with a QB keeper around the right side for a TD. The dual threat QB connected with Tommy Pizczor on a TD pass and another pass to Max Hunt. Leading the defense were Frank “The Tank” Houk, Walter Jacobek, Lincoln Burns and Bubba Grant.
Teal struggled offensively until the “Tazmainian Devil” Massai Reid darted and dashed his way for a long TD Run. The defense was stout and Reid and Pizczor both recorded interceptions. Gage Dangman and Rex Schultz were involved in multiple tackles.
JV
Wildcats 19 – Knights 7
Homecoming Sunday JV faced off against the Knights. Offensively the Wildcats rushed for over 200 yards. They were led by Dylan Clendenning 12/90 followed by Elliot Roethle 4/31, Will Holzer 5/30 and Dante Toures 5/20. All this was possible by the Teal Curtain: Mason Reid, Jaxson Dixon, James Bailey, Connor Clendenning, and Anthony Holder, with Caden Archbold, TE honorable mention. There were a lot of pancakes – though Coach George forgot the syrup! The passing attack was let by Tyler Molitor 5/8 75 yards and 2 TDs to Dylan 4/66 2TD. Honorable mention to Luke Drexel 6-yard TD to a juggling Archbold that was somehow called incomplete. Defensively the Wildcats were flying around making a bunch of tackles. Highlights include Quinn Rumbaugh’s 2nd INT of the season and Archbold making a diving pick (really his 2nd of the game) off a pass deflected by Evan Stewart (who also recovered the opening kickoff). In the end the Wildcats were too much for the Knights and won 18-7.
Varsity
Knights 22 – Wildcats 0
The Wildcats offense had some success in the 5th Quarter with a lightning quick 20-yard TD run by Hunter Clendenning and Chase Vuillaume’s 10-yard TD run. CJ Gilbert showed great vision, weaving his way through the Knights’ defense on a long 40-yard run.
After kick-off the offense had a few nice runs by Ryan Harris, Ryan Manzke and Landon Martinez behind a solid Offensive Line led by Kaden Dangman, Colten Johnson, Deklan Durr, Charlie Morzuch and Kaiden Girten. Self-inflicted wounds did the Wildcats in as they were limited by bad penalties and a couple of turnovers.
The defense tried their best to keep the game close with Matthew Ritter and Landon Martinez both recording interceptions. Manzke and Martinez had strong efforts leading the way in tackles. In the end, the Wildcats fell to the Knights 22-0. It was a tough end to a great Homecoming Sunday, but the Wildcats look to get back on track this week against Homewood-Flossmoor United.
UP NEXT
Homewood Flossmoor United comes to Wildcats Field on Sunday for some River Valley Football Action in the annual Go Gold Game to bring awareness to pediatric cancer. There will be raffles and T-shirts to purchase and support this great cause.
Teal, Black, and White! Fight, Fight, Fight! Go Cats Go!
